CHAPTER 2 - Degeneration

My mother stopped in front of the object and fell to her knees. Her tears flowed like

never before. This time her frustration was so strong that it completely overwhelmed

me. What should I do... What... I looked ahead and saw a chest or rather a box. The box was decorated with flowers and candles. It was probably the

item box from the final boss. However, something was bothering me. Why is there a

picture of me on this box... I didn't understand, but there were more important things. I

turned my gaze back to my mother. There had to be a way to cheer her up. Her tears

could have filled a lake. I got down on my knees myself and looked at her hands, which

were on her lap. I thought it would help if I put my hands on hers, so I did.

"Hey mom, I'm here... You don't need to cry." I told her, but it was no use. Trying to

reach her was pointless, she couldn't hear it. I let my gaze wander up to her face. Her

eyes were swollen from crying and her hair was all messed up. Time passed much

more slowly than before. I jumped around her, ran around, but it was all to no avail.

When the party was finally over, we were already home. My mother started talking on

the phone on the couch and I listened to her phone call...

"Shiibu... why weren't you there?" she said. She sounded extremely frustrated and angry.

She took a deep breath after each letter.

"So that's why... YOU'RE NOT COMING TO YOUR SON'S FUNERAL! YOU WERE HIS

FATHER! AS IF IT WASN'T ENOUGH THAT YOU LEFT US! DO YOU ACTUALLY KNOW HOW

BAD IT WAS TO KEEP MAKING HIM THINK YOU WERE ON A SECRET MISSION!" she

screamed... It was disgusting to have overheard the conversation. She screamed in an

extremely shrill tone. I didn't know what to do. When the conversation ended, Mom

was constantly whispering.

"I'm... sooo pathetic. Why... Why... I just can't take it anymore."

Suddenly it started to rain. The rain was as strong as a tornado, which could have

swept away a settlement. Nevertheless... Even though my mother noticed this... she

ran out of the house. She left everything behind, including me.

"Mom... please wait!" I called after her. I couldn't quite sort out my feelings, which is

why I also started to cry. They were much denser and clearer than Mom's. I wasn't able

to understand the situation. I ran after her blindly. My steps became heavier with each

one.Why... I love you...!

When we stopped, we found ourselves on a bridge. The bridge wasn't big, but it still

sent shivers down your spine in this weather. My mother stood at the railing and

looked down.

"Mom, just wait... I'll bring you something to stand on!" I told her, sadly. I immediately looked around. There must be something like an umbrella here... I

hoped. When I saw a small bus stop at one end of the bridge, which was covered with

umbrella holders, I ran over to it. That will definitely help mom... at least I thought so

with all my heart. With every drop that fell from the sky, I got closer to the bus stop. It

was like running a marathon against a spy. At heart I was happy to be running again,

but my mother was more important to me. When I finally arrived, there was no

umbrella to be found. I ran back humiliated. Maybe mom found one... 

When I saw her, she was no longer at the railing. She had been over the railing for a

while. My emotions boiled over with worry, so I ran to her.

"Mommy come back... THIS IS DANGEROUS!" I screamed.

"Don't worry, Ryuji... Your mom will be back with you soon..." she whispered, her tears

still flowing. Before I knew it, she jumped from the railing into the depths. I started to

cry uncontrollably and buried myself in my hands. I couldn't have known better. But

suddenly a little finger wiped my eyes. "You don't have to cry... From now on we're

together again... Both of us," she said. When I looked up, I saw my mother... She

smiled again and stopped ignoring me. Finally, I could have fun with her again.

"Come on Ryuji, we have to get going," my mother said. I stopped crying and wiped

the last tears from my face.

"Okay..." I said to her, smiling. It was like a dream that had finally come true. I held her

hand and a long, wide staircase appeared in front of us. The rain bounced off us and

hardly bothered us anymore. We walked slowly up the stairs, smiling.

Finally she noticed me again...